Learning the craft
I explored jewellery making beyond beading, including completing a course in silver jewellery making. Working with different materials opened up new ways to think about form, detail and design.
DEMILO CO · THE STORY
A lifelong love
of colour, shape and texture.
Some love stories begin with a person.
Mine began in a bead shop.
Curiosity.Colour.Creativity.And a little bit of magic.
01 / WHERE IT BEGAN
✳
“It was love
at first sight.”
FROM LONG STREET, WITH LOVE
One little shop.
A whole new world.
I was a student nurse in Cape Town, South Africa, when I discovered The Bead Shop on Long Street. I had never seen anything like it.
There were beads everywhere: an extraordinary quantity of colours, textures, shapes and types. Each tray seemed to hold something new. The sheer variety was almost overwhelming — and completely irresistible.
What captivated me wasn't just how beautiful they were. It was what they could become. A handful of individual beads could be combined in endless ways, each arrangement creating a different mood, pattern or story.
That first visit wasn't a passing interest. It was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with jewellery making.
☼A lifetime of colour.
THE THINGS THAT STAY WITH US
A lifetime of colour.
A world of inspiration.
Jewellery has never been just an accessory to me. It's a little piece of personality — something chosen because it speaks to you.
A CREATIVE LIFE
Not a straight line.
A colourful one.
What began with a discovery in Cape Town became years of learning, making, experimenting and sharing that enthusiasm with others.
Two bead shops
I went on to own two bead shops for several years. Being surrounded by beads, colours and possibilities became part of everyday life — and kept my curiosity alive.
African Storm
While living in South Africa, I created my jewellery brand, African Storm. I designed and made every piece myself, bringing together the colours, patterns and boldness I loved.
DeMilo Co
Today, I'm bringing those decades of experience into DeMilo Co. Just as with African Storm, I design and make the jewellery myself — with room for colour, intricacy and the unexpected.
WHAT STILL EXCITES ME
The details.
The daring.
The colour.
My taste has never settled into just one style. I still love intricate beadwork and unexpected combinations as much as bold, African-inspired pieces and earthy, organic designs.
Sometimes it's the smallest bead or an unusual texture that sparks an idea. Sometimes it's a confident burst of colour. I love the freedom to follow both.
“There is always another combination waiting to be discovered.”
BEHIND THE BEADS
Made by hand.
Made with curiosity.
DeMilo Co is personal to me because I'm the person designing and making the jewellery. From choosing materials and exploring combinations to assembling the finished piece, the creative process is part of the pleasure.
There is no single formula: some pieces are delicate and detailed; others are unapologetically bold. What connects them is a love of making and a belief that jewellery should express something of the person wearing it.
COLOUR✳TEXTURE✳INDIVIDUALITY
THE SPIRIT OF DEMILO CO
Rooted in nature.
Drawn to the extraordinary.
Earth & texture
Organic shapes, natural materials and the beautifully imperfect details of the world around us.
Stories & symbols
A fascination with ancient forms and the meaning people have found in adornment across cultures and time.
Individual spirit
Colourful, expressive jewellery that feels personal — and never has to follow the crowd.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
And the love affair
continues.
From Long Street to African Storm and now DeMilo Co, this is a story still being written — one bead, one idea and one handmade piece at a time.
Explore the jewellery ↗Discover Earth & Lore ↗
“Not simply worn.Felt.”